Cork solicitor's deception of €10,000 from couple had 'catastrophic' impact on them

Accused failed to pay stamp duty and land registry fees in respect of a site, which led to the couple losing the site and paying penalties and fees, court heard

Accused received a two-year suspended jail term after he pleaded guilty to deception. Picture: Larry Cummins

A former solicitor who deceived a couple out of almost €10,000 has received a two-year suspended jail term. The deception had a "catastrophic" impact on the couple, the court heard.

50-year-old Mark Cronin, formerly of Macroom, Co Cork, and now of 23 Halliday Square, Dublin, pleaded guilty to two counts of making a gain or causing a loss to another by deception, namely that between December 7, 2009, and January 31, 2012, he did dishonestly by deception induce a person to pay him €9,000 with the intention of making a gain for himself or causing a loss to another, and a similar charge in the same period relating to the sum of €700.